Barry Colin Raymond Pearson
Late of Argenton (Newcastle) NSW
Accidently killed in New Zealand 12th July 2010
Barry`s funeral will be held at All Saint`s Anglican Church Belmont on Tuesday 20th July 2010 commencing at 11am
I love you Dad and always will,
I did in life,
In death I do still.
Each morning I start with a broken heart,
But carry on daily playing my part.
On you Dad I knew I could depend,
You helped me along,
If I walk in your footsteps,
I`ll never go wrong.
RIP Dad/Poppy
We Love You
Becky, Stu, Heidi & Alana
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Our warmest thoughts are of you and your family.
Rest in peace Barry.
Smile from up above.
All our love,
Natalie, Tammy and Sharlene Myles.
FOR BAZ
Baz was a man that gave it all to his family & his friends. A man that would give everything until the very end.
A man who loved his family and his freinds everyday and had the respect of his collegues in every aspect of the way.
He was a man that could make you smile just by being there and everyone who knows him has so many stories to share.
Baz your hard working hands are now laid to rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us he only takes the best.
We all loved you Baz you had a heart of gold and we will miss you.
Our social club outings will never be the same without you.
Rest in peace Love Donna
Dear Barry
Girls at the Downtown Motel Wollongong are thinking of you.
We keep waiting for you to walk through our doors with a six pack
All our love
Kirra, Christina, Maddie, Naomi and Angie
To the family of Barry (Baz) the two attached photos were taken at the SCG Ausralia Vs The West Indies Waratah social club outing February 2010. He always enjoyed a day outside work with his workmates in the social club. We will
all miss his infectious personality, his one liners and his friendship.
Cheers Robert Dick
Barry’s Eulogy
Firstly I would like to thank Chris and the family for allowing Barry’s workmates and colleagues the opportunity to say a few words in his memory. I speak on behalf of all employees of Waratah, both present and past, and everyone who knew Baz in the industry. I hope I can go some way to represent everyone by trying to convey the many, many messages and sentiments that have been made over the last week. His passing has created a shock through all of us and left us with deep sincere regret, he has left us far too early.
Barry started working for Waratah in 2002, initially in the workshop and then in our service team where he remained. He was a dedicated and exceptional tradesman with an uncanny ability of being able to fault find and problem solve. If there was a problem to fix, a part to be changed, there was no better than Baz to have on the job. He was our most sought after service engineer; mines would contact us and ask for him specifically. If there was a problem on a machine, and all hell was breaking loose, simply by knowing that Barry was on his way to have a look at it created confidence in everyone involved. They knew it will be fixed, as quickly, as safely, and with as little stress as possible. He was dedicated to his work and would never leave a job unfinished, no matter what the circumstances.
I’ve had some guys on our service team tell me that they have been doing the same job with Baz, one on the each side of the machine, and they were racing him to get the job finished first, they never beat him. And this was despite the fact that Baz didn’t even know what they were trying to do.
Barry was a mentor to everyone in the service team, affectionately called “dad” by the boys. He was an excellent teacher, always keen to pass on his knowledge to others. When we had new members come into our team, we would always ensure they spent time with Baz, we knew he was the best to look after them underground and keep them safe and no one was better at showing them the best way to get the job done.
However, there was also the concern that he would lead them astray after the shift. And to be honest, its Barry’s personality that I would like to talk about. He was an outstanding tradesman, that’s for sure, but he was a great bloke with a larrikin streak that was hard not to like or admire.
Whether he was in the office causing havoc with the staff or the photo copier, underground on the job carrying enough tools for 10 men, or having a few quiet ones after the shift, that always seemed to grow a bit louder. He was never short of a joke, a quick saying or a yarn, and some of them were even funny. He certainly didn’t let the truth get in the way of a good story. Or the fact that it wasn’t that funny either. I actually tried to think of some of his sayings or stories that I could recount here today, I decided not too as I couldn’t think of any fit to be said in mixed company, especially in a church.
I remember I spent a week with Baz up at Emerald in Queensland working on a machine. It was the middle of summer; the machine was on a pad out the front of the portal in a high wall. It was hot, no breeze could get in, we were working long days and the customer was not happy. As usual Baz took the lead and got the job done with a minimum of fuss. On the last day before we flew out we finished and got back to Emerald after 10pm. We headed to the nearest pub to settle the dust. A few hours later we left the pub and started walking back to our hotel. I stepped off the gutter to cross the street and rolled my ankle, I fell down and bumped my head and temporary knocked myself out. Now given all the kind words I’ve said about Baz, I bet you can guess how he responded. He thought I was joking, so when I came too he was standing above me pretending to lay the boot in yelling at me much to the amusement of a few onlookers. He did help after he realised I wasn’t mucking around.
Baz looked after everyone; it was in his nature to help. We had a service engineer based in Lithgow, not sure if Dave is here today, but I remember Barry would take lollies down for Dave’s kids whenever he travelled that way. Everyone at work knew about his latest project, whether doing something on the house, up at the van, or with one of his kid’s places or there cars. He even turned a push bike into a spit roast. We all knew how proud he was of his kids, and how much he loved his grandchildren, he loved being there pop. I remember him telling me stories about the kids and the spa at home; he was such a proud and dedicated man towards his family.
I know that anyone who spent a bit of time with Baz will have at least one or two stories of there own about him, he was that sort of bloke. I remember him telling me a bit about his own childhood and upbringing over a few beers, it was tough. Some would say that they would understand if he was a bit bitter at life. Not Barry he always put a positive shine on it and this rubbed off on anyone around him. His fantastic attitude and approach to life was inspirational.
He had a love for life, and was the life of the party. Once he was asked to leave a local establishment, possibly after one too many ales, or maybe it was something he ate. Anyway Barry exited one set of doors, a little bit unsteady on his feet, attempted to make his way up the street, over balanced, and ended up coming through another set of doors into the same pub. This was without the security guy who asked him to leave originally seeing him re enter. Luckily the bar stopped him, so he ordered one more for the road, before exiting 2 steps forward, 3 steps back again to the cheers of everyone around.
I left Waratah about 8 weeks ago, and Barry was on site that day. When I went up to say “see you later” and shake his hand, Barry pushed my hand aside and grabbed me and gave me a hug. In everything that I’ve tried to say here today, that example of the type of bloke he was says it all to me. Always smiling with a kind word to make you feel better. That was my last interaction with Baz, and its now one of my strongest memories.
To Chris and your family, Barry had an enormous positive impact on us, his colleagues. We can not begin to imagine the hole you must be feeling now, as our feeling of loss simply pales into insignificance with what you must be feeling. We hope you can gain some comfort in the knowledge that he was held in such high regard and had our utmost respect. Respect for his abilities, but also respect for his attitude and kind personality. You deserve to feel proud of him. From all his workmates, past and present and everyone in our industry who had the luck to work with him, our love and best wishes are with all of you.
Summing Barry up is actually not that difficult, you don’t need fancy words or long stories. Barry Pearson was a bloody good bloke. He had a heart of gold and `would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. He was fair dinkum in everything he did. He was an extraordinary tradesman, a true larrikin, well respected by his workmates and the industry. He has left us far too early, but anyone who met him will not forget him. Thanks for bringing fun and mateship into our lives Baz, rest in peace, we’ll miss you mate, cheers.
Mark Jones
Happy Birthday Bro!!!!! Today we’re going to have breakfast together to celebrate your 56th birthday. Just a small gathering cause you don’t like all the fuss. Christine, Me & Pete, Robert and the kids and grandkids. Just how you would want it to be. As usual I won’t be giving you a present, why change now. Although I will be serving freckles on the side. I’m sure you’ve livened things up there. Left us in a bit of a pickle though. BUGGER!!! We all miss you and I think about you everyday day, but I’m sure you know that. Have to postpone our trip to NZ due to lack of numbers, but it will happen. (Sorry! Pearson humour) There’s so much left to say but I don’t want to put a downer on your birthday. Here’s to you bro. I LOVE YOU. Colleen XXXXXX
23/10/2010
Happy Anniversary my dearest Barry.
Today we should be celebrating 37 years of marriage.
We did make 36 years and 8 months.
Not bad for a couple who everyone said we wouldn`t last.
We had the best marriage ever.
I don`t regret one single moment. You made my life complete.
I hate not sharing today with you.
I miss you so much.
It is so quiet at home without you.
I even miss your corny jokes and one liners.
Watching tv is no fun when there is no-one to fight with over the remote control
You would be very proud of Shane Matt and Becky.
I know their hearts are broken and their pain of losing you is unbearable but they have all inhereted your Strength, Courage and Caring nature.
Their love and support has given me so much strength.
We all miss you so much.
I still cannot believe that you will not walk through the door and all of this is just a terrible dream.
I love you Barry
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MY DARLING
Lots and lots of love and kisses
I will love you forever
Chris xxx
Hi Baz
Happy New Year my darling.
New year was very quiet this year, but we all had a drink for you.
You are always in our thoughts, we miss you heaps
All our love
Chris, Shane, Matt and Becky xoxoxoxoxo
2011
BARRY
It was a winters day when we got the news of an accident that was far away
he was our brother only age 55 we only wish he had stayed But fate was cruel that day and took our brother away
July was the month when we shed all those tear we never got the chance to say goodbye
his heart just stopped and we all cried yes fate was cruel that day and took our brother away
Our brother made us laugh and he loved to joke he loved everyone and everything
he always had something nice to say sometimes that would brighten up your day
But fate was cruel that day and took our brother away
Our brother`s name was Barry he had a family and a wife she loved him so deep and true they had a perfect life and even though our brother`s life was suddenly taken away i`m so glad we got to know him and experienced his love in so many wonderful ways .
Pauline
miss you so much love you
Well we have made it through a few big events. Each one harder than the next not easier. The only corny jokes we had this christmas where the ones in the bon bons. The girls are growing up way too fast but you will be happy to know that Lani has your cheeky fun loving personality. We miss you so much Dad. xoxo
21/1/2011
Hey Bro,
Today is my birthday and I woke up with a heavy heart knowing you would not be making your usual phone call. Life still doesn`t get any easier knowing your not here to talk to. My mind drifted back to my 50th 2 years ago and the fun we had that night. As usual you were the first to arrive and the last to leave. I`ll always miss dancing with you when we`re at a function of some sort. Nobody on the floor but us and we didn`t care. Not really dancing though..just shuffling around the floor and making absolute fools of ourselves. You didn`t care because we were doing something we both enjoyed. It`s a memory only we share. I`ll be sure to have a drink or 2 for you tonight and probably a packet of freckles.
Thinking of you everyday. Big Brothers don`t come much better than you. They threw away the moulds when they made us thats for sure. Love you heaps bro & I`ll always miss you. xxxxxxxxx
27/5/2011
Hey Bro, It hardly seems like a year since you left us but we are all still struggling with your absence. I look at your photo everyday and still ask myself WHY??? You did leave us with many memories though & that is what I`m holding on to. No-one tells a joke like you. I never knew whether you were serious or not till you reached the punch line. Always making us laugh. Hope your keeping them all happy up there. I know your watching down on us so I`ll keep looking up & giving you a big smile. Love you & miss you heaps. Your little sister Colleen XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
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